Disclaimer: Standard and witty ones apply. Savvy?

Warnings: Bathroom scene following, uhm. hatred? yeah. and a little bit of confusion.

Chapter 4

Opposites Attract

Cold water ran through his boisterous orange hair downward to his body like diminutive waterways. The solitary sound to be renowned was the running water from the shower and his even breathing. A squeaking sound from the lever of the shower marked the end of the session. He draped a towel athwart his waist and wiped the rest of his body.

Now out of the shower he faced the bathroom mirror that revealed his trademark scowl. He started to march nearer the basin through the icy bathroom floor. He indolently lifted his toothbrush to start the basic routine. After brushing he placed his brush back to it's ought pose when the door unexpectedly burst open to expose a raven-haired midget who's face seem to become flushed at the very second. She stopped dead on her tracks right in front of the bathroom's door, her left hand at the doorknob, her mouth agape, cheeks burning, stomach flipping, but heck; she loves what she's seeing. A wet, hot, gorgeous and almost naked Ichigo fresh from the shower, now if only he would take off that stupid tow- Wait, what?! Did I just call Ichigo hot? No way! No way! You stupid jerk! Get a hold of yourself! It's just Ichigo –naked- No! damnit! He's a bastard! A jerk! An asshole! He is THE Ichigo! You can't like him! –but admit you like what you're seeing- No stop it!

She was shoved out of her thoughts by a well-known, infuriating, hot male voice.

"You perverted midget! What the hell are you doing invading my privacy!?" Ichigo glared while trying to wrap himself with the superfluous towel on his hands. Wait, is Rukia blushing? Heck yes, an indiscernible grin suddenly tugged on his face as he put down the towel. She has been driving him fanatical pretty much a few days now, but seeing THE Kuchiki Rukia open and close her mouth repetitively like a stupid goldfish and being stunned, this moment is priceless. Her face is redder than Renji's hair and her eyes couldn't stop looking at him. Oh yeah, he is so much loving this.

"I.. uh… uhm…" she gulped, what the hell happened to her voice? What the fuck happened to her 'I'm-cooler-than-thou' image? Is she starting to like Ichigo? Wait, starting? She wasn't sure. She loved Kaien in the past 3 years since she went back here. But they broke up about a year ago. Did she like him because he looked like Kaien? Or did she love Kaien because he looked like Ichigo. Question is, does he like her back? Well he did seem kinda jealous and he got angry when he saw other men lurking around her right? Yes, oh shit Rukia, speak you stupid jerk!

"I.. uhmm.. Wow..." her palms were starting to sweat madly, her eyes was feasting of his almost naked, wet body. Then the holy image she was beholding started to walk closer to her, a sinister grin placed across his face. It was the smirk he used when he was about to do something very badass. He liked the feedback he got from her. He liked to have his own personal privacy but heck to it. If he was gonna get the same reaction from Rukia every time she invades his privacy well then so be it. It's a sweet price.

"Well Kuchiki? Are you gonna have an ample explanation why you're feasting right now at my almost naked body or are you gonna keep staring?" He kept on walking closer.

"I… uh…" she let out short, shallow breathes she can't take this, no, too hot. But no, she IS Rukia Kuchiki, she got an image to protect, Ichigo couldn't defeat her, never. She can't fuel up his stuck-up conceit.

"Well…?" too close. His body was now towering in her petite figure; she started to back down in his room. She kept on trying to keep her stare on his face but her eyes kept on falling on the well-built chest in front of her. God, how she wished she could just jump right on him and devour him. She can no longer find her voice. She tried to speak but nothing came, just unfilled superficial air. She felt herself backed up opposition against the wall.

"Well?" He asked again, he placed his left arm next to her face against the wall and moved his face closer to hers. Oh yeah, he was so badass!

His breath tickled her face, he is too close. She thought. His face was no less than three inches away from hers. When she found her senses, she motioned her index finger to trail down from his jaw line through his muscle chest. His body still damped from the shower. It was soft, smooth and wet. She liked it a lot. She smirked at his reaction; she gave him a taste of his own medicine. She then realized she was wearing a bikini, a cute little bikini with strawberry pattern prints with a matching see-through lilac sarong skirt draped across her waist. She inched her face a little closer with a grin matching his,

"I was just gonna ask you if you would like to join us at the beach… everyone's already outside you know." She continued to trail down his abs, so sexy. She allowed her breath to tingle with his as she bit her lower lip in a lustful manner, what a bitch.

He felt goose bumps all around his body. The little hairs at the back of his neck rose as she sent chills down his spine.

"So are you gonna come?" A hint of triumph danced across her purple orbs as she raised a thin well-trained eyebrow for emphasis.

"I… uh…" His words stuttered officially declaring her price. She smirked. He gulped at looked down at the midget... just a little closer and her lips would be against his, he thought. He found his confidence again and tried to inch a little more closer, slowly, enough to give her time to back down, just a little more…

"What the?!" A fazed Kaien stood at the opening of Ichigo's room eyes bloodshot as if he'd seen a ghost. They were about to… about to… kiss. He could barely even find his sanity at the thought. They were about to kiss. He watched both of them pull away faster than the human eye could comprehend with a hint of guilt and frustration in their eyes, both blushing furiously.

Unnerving stillness enveloped the trio. No one spoke. However, Kaien decided to break the silence,

"I… I'm sorry… I was… uh… looking for you… Rukia." He looked down.

"I'll just… uhm… come back later…" He started to maneuver his heels in the opposite direction when Rukia spoke.

"No! uhm what is it Kaien?" She asked then jogged away from Ichigo, the said abandoned man was flaring with vehemence at Kaien. He just needed to come at the right moment didn't he?

"Can we go and talk privately?" Kaien asked, but it sounded more as if he pleaded. Ichigo didn't like it. Talk privately? What the hell does he have to talk privately to his Rukia? It's not like he's gonna ask Rukia to go out with him right? Oh, shit. He thought, he never actually asked Rukia about her past relationships, but why would he? Because he likes her, he won't be able to admit it, aloud at least. How does Rukia feel? Does she like him back? She acts the same way around all the other guys. He gave her the chance to pull away a while ago, but she didn't. But then again, this IS Rukia, maybe she was just playing along. With her, you can never be sure, but she would never play with emotions, but with Ichigo, they were like that long before. They would constantly insult and pester each other, but they never talk about relationships deeper than friendship. No, they were scared to even touch that matter.

"Yeah, sure." He heard her say as she walked obliviously away from the angry, almost naked and wet Ichigo. He watched her march with those slim legs. How can someone have such slender, sexy legs when they're too short? Heck to it, all the Gods and Goddesses must really hate him. They made Rukia short and sexy with an impossible lithe legs and she was wearing a bikini with strawberry pattern prints! In addition, when they were about to kiss he arrives and ruins the moment! But what would happen if Kaien never arrived? Could she be laughing at his stupidity right now or will they still be sucking each other's faces? He preferred the latter much better.

Kaien didn't exactly know why he wanted to talk to Rukia. But when he saw that they almost kissed, he felt an impulsive inclination to take Rukia away from that citrus head as far as possible. They broke up about a year ago after their one and a half year relationship. He felt as if he lost all his interests to Rukia so he broke up with the said woman. Another reason is he went to England to study for college last year and he didn't think that a long distance relationship would work. Now he went back here for a vacation. As usual, he saw Rukia again in one of those clubs he used to play DJ after one year of cold treatment. Rukia seemed to have moved on and Renji finally had the guts to ask her out. He wasn't sure if Rukia agreed or not. But he didn't really care about that, so why now? Is it because Ichigo is a threat? He knew Ichigo was Rukia's other best friend when she moved to Karakura but she never told him about any romantic relationship between them. But they were about to kiss! He saw it! It was just like his and Rukia's first kiss, just like an exact replica except Rukia wasn't wearing a bikini and he wasn't moist and almost naked.

When he considered it safe to talk he started,

"Uhm… Rukia… " He mumbled incoherently.

"Yeah?" She asked with curiosity. She too, was mad at him for interrupting what was about to happen, it was so close, yet he chose the perfect timing to ask her something. Great, just great.

"Uhm… about last year…" his eyes never fixing with hers "about us…" he was now having a thumb battle, how unlikely of him, "you know… last year…" Rukia couldn't quite decipher whatever he was trying to say but it had something to do with their past. Rukia didn't like this.

"Yes, Kaien?" She asked, nervous.

"Well, about our past… I thought I didn't feel anything for you anymore…" his gaze in opposition to Rukia's seeking and curious ones. She remained silent and he took it as a sign so he continued…

"I was wrong… I ended our relationship last year because I thought it would be a hindrance in my studies…"

"A hindrance?" her left eyebrow rose in annoyance. How dare he say that their relationship was a hindrance?

"Well, you know, long distance relationships… they're hard to maintain." He was now looking at her eyes. His showed pleading, hers was disappointment and annoyance.

"Well, if you want to I could've studied in England with you!" She glared at him, how irresponsible, arrogant, and immature! He didn't even think of how she would feel!

He was shocked at her, yes, seriously, why didn't he think of that? Rukia was one of the nobles; they could easily afford to let her study in any school that she would please.

"I… uh… I'm sorry Rukia…" he looked down again. He was stupid.

"I already forgave you Kaien…" she stated it flat and cold. He was soundless.

"Is that all? The others are still waiting for us at the beach." She said in monotone parallel to what she's used at her last comment. She couldn't care less to whatever Kaien has to say. She was livid at him for suspending that little scene with Ichigo, and also for saying that their relationship was an impediment, but mostly because of the first one.

"Um… no…" he blushed lightly "I wanted to ask you if you would go out with me again?" After his statement, he looked at her, eyebrow raised in question, arms crossed in annoyance, and a straight face. That isn't good. Then her arms fell along with her shoulders and her other features. She looked down at him almost begging for forgiveness to whatever she was about to say to the person.

"You know, I was gonna do anything you'd ask I just needed you to say it. If you wanted to study in England, you could've told me so I would've followed you. But…" she paused. He looked at her as if she has three heads.

"It's Ichigo isn't it?" His expression now gone and face back into a normal scowl and his terrifying dark irises.

"What?" She was surprised. What does he mean by… then it hit her.

"Awhile ago, both of you were about to kiss." He stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world with a slight smirk of amusement. Rukia formed an 'o' shape with her mouth.

"Oh, that… I'm not really sure about that…" she rapidly found something attention-grabbing in her toes and sustained amusing herself to remain her head down and veil the blush that was divulging her.

"Well, from what I saw, none of you was planning to pull away." She remained still as if a little girl being scolded.

"Don't worry, I understand. I won't bother you about our past again." Now it was her who was looking at him with a bemused look much like of a child.

"Still friends?" He asked with a confident smirk as he offered her his hands. She looked at it and smiled. Though Kaien and Ichigo were a lot like similar, they have a big divergence about solemn matters. She was mad at him, but shoved it aside when she hugged him. They were gonna remain friends after-all. She didn't know how Ichigo felt about her but she was just gonna wait. Just like what she did with Kaien, she waited until he had the guts to tell her how he felt. However, is she ready to face everything again? She had uncertainties and past ordeals about her past relationship, but she was just gonna go with the flow. It would be called negligence but she could care less.

Kaien wrapped his arms around Rukia's waist warmly with the utmost intentions. Rukia can never be his now. He understood, but as long as he is Rukia's friend, he will take all that he could get. Nevertheless, if that bastard breaks Rukia's heart, he's sure as hell he would seek for every trace of his existence and beat the living daylights out of him. For now, he was gonna treasure this moment as long as it lasts. After a few moments, Rukia pulled back and smiled. He smiled back, a big cheesy grin that he reserved only for Rukia.

"Race yah." She said with a smirk. Rukia let out a soft chuckle before running away from him and making him chase after her.

"Midget." He chuckled and ran after her.

Ichigo went out of the house and looked for both of them. He didn't like what Kaien wanted to talk privately to Rukia about. He was petrified when he saw Rukia's arms wrapped around Kaien's and Kaien coiled his arms around Rukia's waist. Right now, he wanted to beat the crap out of the bastard who ruined their kiss and now took his chances with Rukia. Perfect. He thought. Now he would never have the chance with Rukia. But what about a while ago? She didn't seem to pull back. Of course, she was Rukia, she was playing, he mused to himself. His scowl deeper than before and his body seemed not working when he watched them chase each other down the beach, he couldn't take it. He went back to the house and decided a book would clear off his mind… for a while.

Author's Note:Yes, so i finally decided to start the pressure around Rukia and Ichigo and Kaien. Kaien's role in this story is not yet over! -evil girl- this story is no where near over but this story would have to stay in a looooooooooong term hiatus. i know, crappy right? i'm so sorry, but my parents are gonna arrive soon and my computer hours would be shortened. and it's x-mas, well, this is your x-mas gift mates, and a one-shot that i'll post after this. it's not a christmas fic, lol. and this story is dedicated to my wonderful beta Amerie-san, she asked me if i could make it hotter. ;-) i hope i satisfied that. lol well, merry christmas and happy new year! see yah guys after that! more reviews please? it makes my christmas more merrier and it makes santa's sleigh fly! wee!